Quote Originally Posted by rabernet
I wish now I could remember who told me this now, but that they don't do it, because oftentimes, the one who loses may never become a good breeder....hmmmm...wondering if I read it in the VPI book, now. Or saw it on their tape. Now I'm going to go crazy remembering where I heard or was told this.


Found it! Wow, some of this actually does "stick"! LOL

Pythons of the World, Vol II: Ball Pythons by Barker and Barker, p. 216

We don't combat our males. Ball python males are not as quick to combat as some other python species. Typically, only very closely matched males that have never before had the chance will combat. We don't ever expose our older, established maled directly to each other. In ball pythons and other pythons, it is our observation that some youngsters, having been roundly beaten in combat, may not show any courtship behavior for years.